Jan 27, 2013 12:23 PM

I've had enough of the grey skies, single digit weather and want to think about brighter things. So my mind turns to running! Do you have a spring traing plan/goal?

I am about to begin training for my first half marathon which will take place in May. This has been a goal of mine for years (even before I started running). Last year I was on track to accomplish it until I craked my ribs. I'm hoping this is the year! I've got a training plan that will have me running 3 days a week with cross training on 2-3 off days. My schedule is crazy (whose isnt) so I'm going to focus on getting runs in and try to do some ab work, or in house exercise, on some of the cross training days. I want to prove to myself I can do this! I want to prove I can meet this challenge and overcome the mental and physical barriers between me and that medal at the end of the race.

What are your spring plans/goals?

Stephanie

Started C25K 3/29/11 for the third time - Graduated 7/1/11 - some of us take longer

I'm also training for my first half marathon taking place in May. I just got back into running 3 weeks ago after almost a year off. I know that 10 more weeks of training isn't much but it's already been enough of a motivation to get my butt in gear which I sorely needed. I figure if I have to walk most of it then so be it but I'm already able to run about 15 min without stopping so I'm pretty happy about that.

My training plan has been different than in the past when I would train for a 5k. I normally would start over with C25K but I was able to run longer this time than I was in the past so I went into it just trying to run as long as I could and then do a kind of run/walk interval thing. I also found 3 treadmill workouts on this site and I've tried a couple of them and so far they are kicking my butt. One of them has the incline at 6% for most of it. I'm planning on getting more into a specific training routine that I found but for now this is working.

This is great that there is someone else in my boat! It would be great if we could be there to cheer each other on, even if it's "virtually"!

Wow you both are running by the ocean. That sounds like fun! BOSNPM - I am well aware of the hills having grown up in Cincy. Even though I live in WV, I tend to run flatter routes, as the hills here are not hills, they are mountains. My training plan has me doing hill repeats every other week where I spend a mile running up and down as far as I can handle it. Of course my grade if a lot steeper, but hopefully it will work itself out. I figure that mile 6-8 I will take a run walk approach.

Megan, I'd love to share our training together. My husband has become very supportive, but he doesn't get it. What does your training plan look like? How far is your longest run in your plan? How many times a week do you run? A 6% incline sounds CRAZY!!!! But more power to you! I still do run walk as I need to. Dogs stop me frequently (people don't believe in fences or chains in WV), and I am "practicing" for my water breaks so I walk about 30 seconds every mile, if I havent stopped already.

My plan has me running 3 times a week, my longest run is 12 miles, but I feel confident that if I have to shorten some weeks and only make it to 10 I will be able to finish the the 1/2 (that's as a far as the Hal Higdon plan takes you). This week I have 3 (easy) 4( tempo) and 6 for the long run. 6.2 is the farthest I have ever run, so soon I will be entering unchartered territory. My schedule is such that I have scheduled my long runs on Friday's. But this week, it will be on Thursday. Generally I struggle on tempo runs. I am very slow and have no rhthym But yesterday's 4 miler was actually good, so I'm hoping for continued success.

Happy Running!

Stephanie

Started C25K 3/29/11 for the third time - Graduated 7/1/11 - some of us take longer

I am training for the 25k run here in Grand Rapids May 11, 2013. But, My big race is May 25. The Bayshore Run in Traverse City MI. I cant wait for that one. It will be my first official Half Marathon race.

Glad I clicked on this ....I committed to my first 1/2 marathon race this year for my 50th birthday present to myself. There are two differnt one I'm consdiering, although I will only commit to one - the Chicago Women's 1/2 Marathon on June 23rd and then the 17th Annual Chicago 1/2 Marathon on Sept. 8th. I'm worried about the possible humidity and heat that can come in June in Chicago. Problem in Chicago is that early September can be just the same as June or it can be cold!!

I'm doing the Soldier Field 10 miler in May so that's going to be my long race push at the end of my training program. I'm using Active Advantage 1/2 Marathon Training Program....anyone use their programs before??

edensacres - you can do it!!! I'm saying that to myself as well....the longest I've ever run is 7 miles and I've committed to the 1/2 marathon this year too!! i'd be happy to stay connected with you and megan....seems like we're all going to be first time 1/2ers??

I actually have two half-marathons scheduled, one in March (St. Patrick's Day) and the second in June (the 9th I think). The March race is in Wilmington, DE and is hilly,so not especially easy. The June race is a pretty easy course in Philly, with one noticable hill, at mile 12.5. But it probably will be on the warm side. So I'll have to take it easy.

For the first timers, remember to know what you can do and to run your own race. I registered for my first half almost on a whim - some friends convinced me I could do it. Though I ran regularly, my longest run at the time was a 10K. I did some walking, not deliberately, but I finished. And I've run another 30 or 40 since then. It's a great distance.

What a wonderful gift to yourself! If your a training for the Soldier Field 10 miler, why not do the half in June? The timing seems perfect. I know you are worried about the humidity by to do the race in the beginning of September, you'd have to be training in August, which is my least favorite month to run in. But that's based on the weather here in WV.

I'm sure you will do great with whichever race you choose. I am not familiar with the Active training plans. But would be curious to learn more.

Good luck and keep in touch!

Stephanie

Started C25K 3/29/11 for the third time - Graduated 7/1/11 - some of us take longer

So Scotty, your are running a 25k before your first half, impressive! I've been to Traverse City once when I was a kid, I bet thats going to be a great race. I can see the entire town getting involved.

What does your training plan look like?

Started C25K 3/29/11 for the third time - Graduated 7/1/11 - some of us take longer

hey len.....thanks for the tips! this will be my first 1/2 marathon. i'm planning on running through the training program twice. the first time through will end in april just in time for a 10 mile race in chicago. then im going to restart the training program in june and do it through the summer and end with the 1/2 marathon on sept. 8th. i run 4 miles each day with a long run once per weekend. im starting to build from 6, then 7, then 8 and so on....im hoping training will go as planned and i should be good.

stephanie - that's a great point on the timing as far as doing the 10 miler in may and then be ready for the 1/2er about 3 weeks after. in august i would mainly be training indoors on a track and treadmill. (yuck i know!!!) i also do evening runs once the sun goes down in the summer here in chicago. i will definitely put some thought to your suggestion! the race is very early AM so it may not be too bad in june! thanks!!!

I'm training for my first half in N.C. at the end of March. I live in Boston and was worried about the snow getting in the way so I started early. Since the beginnign of December I've been doing a 5 mile run on Tuesday, another 5 miles on Friday and a 10 -12 on Sunday. I can only find the time to run 3 days a week due to work schedule. I run pretty fast and have been able to keep some of the 10 mile runs under 80 minutes. Hoping to finish the half in between 1:45:00 and 1:50:00. I'm not sure if that's too ambitious a time and if I should be more conservative during the race trying to run a slower pace, ore just do what comes naturally. Also, when I run the 10 -12 mile runs, I don't drink water during the run. Should I try running the half without a water stop if that's what I'm used to doing? Any advice from those who are more experienced would be greatly appreciated.

If you're doing most of your training at about 8-minute pace, you should have no trouble doing the race at that pace. Unless the weather is too warm , say over 55 degrees. You could start a little slower, then pick up the pace a little every 3 or 4 miles. Don't do anything in the race that you haven't done in training. That said, I'd recommend drinking some water on your long runs. An 8 ounce, handheld bottle should do the trick.

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